Surgical support



" Oct. 14, 1947.

M. L. HOLYCROSS SURGICAL SUPPORT Filed Nov. 18, 1946 Patented Oct. 14, 1947 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SURGICAL SUPPORT "Max L. Holycross, Columbia City, Ind. Application November 18; 1946, Serial No. 710,598

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in a surgical support adaptable for use by aperson afflicted with a floating kidney to prevent dering thereof.

It has been found that the ordinary abdominal truss used for sustaining internal organs in normal position is inadequate for confining a floating kidney in its normal place because of the tendency of the pressure pad to move or become shifted from its intended location on the abdomen.

In the instant invention the pressure pad is held definitely where initially applied regardless of contortions of the body of the patient occasioned in walking or maneuvering about. 1 An object of the invention is to afford a surgical appliance in which is included a pressure pad, a girdle, and a frame so arranged that when the appliance is worn by a patient afflicted with a floating kidney, the pad is sustained in the initial position intended and is undisturbed by normal movements of the patient.

Another object of the invention is to aiford a construction in which the parts thereof are readily separable or re-assembled and conveniently adjusted when the appliance is fitted on the patient.

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an appliance in which the invention is incorporated, viewed from the front;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a spring frame forming a part of the appliance;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the. pressure pad;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the pad shown in Fig. 3, partially in section; and

Fig. 5 is a detail elevational View showing the pressure pad and its situs, the view being in section.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a girdle 6, a spring'frame 1, an adjustable fastening, indicated generally by A, and an unattached pressure pad 8.

The girdle 6 is preferably formed of two oppositely disposed fabric pieces 9-H] the front ends of which overlap and are secured together by snap fasteners II, and the rear ends of which are spaced apart and adjustably secured together by a lacing I2, as in the usual manner, by which to take up slack of the girdle when in place. Upon the front face of the fabric piece 9 is secured a pocket l3 preferably of fabric, the far end M of which is open. The girdle is equipped with customary crotch straps l5.

The frame 1 is preferably constructed of spring wire, bent to form a U-shaped loop [6 at one end of the frame, and parallel arms ll, contiguous with the loop, the distal ends of which are wan- 2 back-turned to form eyes It. The arms are spaced apart fromeach other and bent to partially encompass the girdle so that the loop and the distal ends of the arms overlap the front faces of the girdle pieces. The loop end of the frame extends into the pocket l3, when the frame is in place on the girdle, and the distal ends of the arms are secured to a draw string l9 which is attached to the girdle at l9 and strung through the eyes I 8 and connected with a pull cord 20 that is secured to an anchor button M on the front of the fabric piece I0.

The pressure pad 8 ismade of elastic materialjsuch as rubberor sponge rubber and shaped to suit that form Of depression required to be made in the abdominal wall. The elastic body 8 is completely encased Within a covering 8' of fabric by which the elastic material is prevented from having direct contact with the flesh of the patient.

In use, the girdle is placed around the waist and secured by closing the snap fasteners H and tightening the lacing I2 so the girdle fits snugly in place around the torso. The frame 1 is positioned around the girdle with its arms I! disposed astride the hip bones and with its loop end extending into the pocket l3 and may be further secured, if desired, by stitches 22 to more firmly hold the arms and the girdle together. The distal ends of the arms are drawn into a selected position by manipulating the fastening A, and are held in place by securing the pull cord 20 around the anchor button 2|. After the girdle and the frame have been assembled and adjusted to suit the comfort of the patient, the pressure pad is then bodily inserted between the inner wall of the girdle, back of the pocket l3, and the adjacent wall of the abdomen whereupon the pad becomes impressed into the loop end l6 of the frame and forms an impression in the adjacent wall of the abdomen, thus to locally restrict movement of adjacent internal organs.

Avaluable feature of the invention is that the pressure pad is unattached with respect to the girdle or the frame and is held in place definitely in the impression made by the pad in the abdominal wall by pressure of the girdle.

Relative movement of the pad and the girdle is limited by the bulging of the outer wall of the pad within the loop end of the frame. This arrangement is advantageous is that the pad is held in the impression made by it in the abdomen while the outer face of the pad has limited freedom of movement relative to the confining girdle. In this manner friction between the pad and the flesh of the patient is averted.

Variations from the particular construction above disclosed may be resorted to by the exertiguous parallel arms spaced apart from eachv other, said loop end and the distal ends of said arms overlapping the front of the girdle, means securing said loop end in a definite position on the girdle, an adjustable fastening connecting the distal ends of the arms to the girdle, and an unattached pressure pad disposed back of the loop end of the frame between the girdle and adjacent wall of the abdomen.

2. A surgical support for floating kidney consisting of a pliant girdle provided with a pocket overlying a front portion thereof, a frame having a-loop end, secured in said pocket, and contiguous parallel arms spaced apart from each other partially encompassing the girdle, an adjustable fastening on the front of the girdle opposite said pocket connected with the distal ends of said arms, and an unattached elastic pressure pad disposed between the abdomen of the wearer and the girdle back of the loop end of the frame, said loop end constituting a situs for said pad.

3. A surgical applance for a floating kidney consisting of a pliant girdle provided with a frame having a loop end secured on a front side portion of said girdle and contiguous parallel arms spaced apart from each other and partially encompass the girdle, the distal ends of which arms overlap the opposite front side portion of said girdle, an adjustable fastening means on the girdle connected with said arms to secure the frame in place, and an unattached pressure pad, disposed between the girdle and the abdomen of the wearer, seated in said loop end.

4. A surgical appliance for floating kidney consisting of a girdle, a frame secured to and partially encircling said girdle, said frame being shaped to provide a loop and contiguous parallel arms, means for securing said frame in a selected position on said girdle; and an unattached pressure pad disposed between the girdle and the abdomen of the wearer back of the loop so as to be seated therein thus to retain the pad in operative position.

MAX L. HOLYCROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 737,155 Schiffer Aug. 25. 1903 763,683 Magoris June 28, 1904 772,105 Lacy Oct. 11, 1904 

